Intrenching-tool.



No. 630,829. Patented Aug. 8, I899.

A. G. HOFFMAN". INTRENCHING TOOL.

' fi1edJan.29,1897.)

(Applicatwn Nrrnn STATES ATEN-T OFFICE.

ARNOLD G. HOFFMANN, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO C. D. OOWLES, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

INTRENCHlNG-TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,829, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed January 29, 1897. Serial No- 621,248. (No model.)

To (0% whom it rrmg concern.-

Be it known that I, ARNOLD G. HOFFMANN, of the United States Army, stationed at Fort Clark, in the county of Kinney, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intrenching-Tools; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and usefulimprovements in intrenching-tools, and relates more particularly to that class used by soldiers while in the field and in case of sudden emergency.

Heretofore when it was found necessary to throw up intrenchments while on the skirmish-line or in the event of any sudden emergency the troops were usually without suitable tools and the ordinary bayonet was frequently employed to dig up the dirt, which latter was thrown out by the aid of cans, cups, or any other suitable utensils, always resulting in the destruction orat least great injury thereof, or else the troops were compelled to wait under the best shelter obtainable until the necessary intrenching-tools could be transported to the desired locality.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these difficulties, and this I accomplish by forming the usual bayonet-Scabbard carried by each enlisted soldier in service with a lower widened spade-like portion, said scabbard having a central pocket adapted to receive the bayonet. In practice when it is desired to throw up an intrenchment the scabbard is unslung or detached from the waistbelt, by which it is supported, and the lower portion thereof used as a spade, the bayonethandle serving as a handle for the same.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 8 illustrate several views of the bayonet-scabbard now in general use in the United States Army. Fig. 4 illustrates my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a bayonet-scabbard of the usual form, having a hook a or the like, whereby the same may be attached to the waist-belt. The bayonet a is removably supported in said scabbard.

B represents my improved intrenching-tool, the same comprising a central Scabbard or pocket Z), designed to support 'or carry the bayonet a and provided with lateral Win gs b, 5 5 forming the blade of a spade-like portion 17 and a lower pointed end 11 the edges 12 of which are sharpened. Said tool is designed to be substituted for the bayonet-Scabbard now in general use and is carried in a manner similar thereto.

In practice when an emergency arises necessitating the throwing up of intrenchment-s each soldier detaches his bayonet-Scabbard from his belt, and retaining the bayonet therein and utilizing the same as a handle a very effective spade is obtained, by means of which the intrenchment can be very quickly and readily thrown up without necessitating the delay incident upon waiting for the receipt of proper tools or running the risk of injuring or destroying utensils and equipments by using them for purposes of the character specified.

My improved intrenching-toolis simple and inexpensive, and the advantages of the same will be readily apparent to those skilled in military appliances.

I claim as my invention 1; As an improved article of manufacture, a Scabbard designed to normally inclose a bayonet and formed with a spade-like portion at its lower or outer end.

2. As an improved article of manufacture,

a scabbard for a bayonet having a central elongated pocket designed to normally inclose such bayonet, and wings extending from the side edges and one end of said pocket, said scabbard constituting the handle and said wings forming a spade-like portion, substano tially as set forth.

ARNOLD e. HOFFMANN.

\Vitnesses:

CALVIN D. CoWLEs, FRANK E. MILLER. 

